---
title: "Checkered Garter Snake"
description: "Thamnophis marcianus — Reptiles. The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/checkered-garter-snake
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Checkered Garter Snake

> Thamnophis marcianus — Reptiles. The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae.

- Scientific name: *Thamnophis marcianus*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 8273
- Wikidata: [Q1458979](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1458979)
- iNaturalist taxon: [28390](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/28390)

## Names

- en: Checkered Garter Snake
- de: Karierte Strumpfbandnatter
- es: Sochuate

## Countries with the most observations

US (7339), MX (407), NI (28), BZ (14), HN (5)

## Summary

The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkered_garter_snake

## Photo

![Checkered Garter Snake](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/checkered-garter-snake/medium.jpg)

Photo: dbugs · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131190067

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/checkered-garter-snake?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).